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Comments (12)
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Upload your photos. We may feature them.Loyal reader Clarence Moore wrote in to us in response to our recent blog posts on Viking and Uniworld introducing new river cruise ships and Avalon christening a new river cruise ship:
There are a couple of rivers in the east of Spain and the Po River in Italy that NEED river cruise ships. Additionally, the river north of Prague to Berlin is well covered, but on north to Hamburg and to the sea is hardly covered at all. There are canals and river systems right through from Amsterdam to Berlin, but this route is NOT covered except by one European company with ONE trip annually, if even that now. Yet, they have Hansel and Gretel houses and entire villages through that area that are VERY attractive.The Oder River and other Polish rivers are inadequately or not covered at all. One river goes north and one south not too far after you leave Vienna or Budapest on the Danube—both navigable, but NO cruises! Any way you could help increase interest in these potential river cruises? We need American companies, like Uniworld or Viking to cover them all! Thanks!
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Yes! These would definately be a welcomed addition. I've often wondered why the same itineraries appear year after year. Let's see some more places to visit from the perfect way to travel.
Posted By Lorna on August 31, 2009, 2:19 PM
Great idea! We would like to go on another river cruise but would like to try some new routes too...esp. in Italy or Spain.
Posted By K. Quinn on August 31, 2009, 2:46 PM
I wanted to book Uniworld's Ukraine, Black Sea and Istanbul cruise for next year but was told they were no longer doing it. Here was something very different and exciting and they cancel it. I haven't been able to find any other ship doing it so I suggest one of the lines takes a look at those ports.
Posted By Carol on August 31, 2009, 3:02 PM
As the person in charge of developing new product for Viking River Cruises, I would very much like to second your request for more, more, more ! Having said that, here is what we have found, as far as European rivers are concerned: one of our competitors a few years ago tried sailing the Wisla in Poland. there is a lot of historical interest along that river, so it seemed appropriate. However, the river turned out to be barely navigable during the best of times - if my memory serves me well, only two or three cruises could take place as planned. The venture was abandoned after that one season.
The Oder north of Berlin does get some river cruise traffic, but the ships have to be relatively small, and the demand is limited, just as it is on the lower Elbe and the waterways of Northern Holland. To my knowledge, only one European company services these regions.
A few years ago a number of companies sailed on the Po river, but the water levels in that river proved a major challenge in operating an entire season. Subsequently, all of these operators were forced to pull out.
On the Iberian peninsula, only the Douro river is large and deep enough for river cruise vessels. There are a few operators that offer cruises on this river that drains northern Portugal.
To Carol: Viking River Cruises does offer a cruise in the Ukraine, from Kiev to Odessa or vice versa. Check out our website.
Finally, to Clarence Moore: some parts of Europe are only now finding the economic benefits river cruising can bring. Infrastructure is constantly being improved and new opportunities present themselves. Rest assured that wherever we find a river that can sustain an exciting, dependable and rewarding cruise experience, you will find us there !
Posted By Joost Ouendag on August 31, 2009, 3:47 PM
"Ditto" We have cruised the Mississippi, Nile, Yangtze and Rhine and just this summer enjoyed (American owned) French Country Waterways' Cote D'Or barge cruise. As soon as we got home, I began looking for our next destination. We want to return to Italy, tour Greece, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. As far as I can determine, no one offers river cruises in any of those countries.
Posted By Vickie Murphy on August 31, 2009, 6:02 PM
I was delighted to read all of the above comments. There is an increasing number of retiring baby boomers who are ready to travel the world. Get ready for us on the river cruises - but offer us a greater variety of rivers and countries. I am looking for a trip for next year after taking two river cruises this past year.
Posted By Carol Baerlein on August 31, 2009, 6:56 PM
We have done three cruises with Viking River Cruises and have found their itineraries, service, and accommodations to be excellent! They have been unforgettable lifetime experiences, and we are looking forward to takig our next trip with them. I too would love new itineraries in Italy, Poland, or Greece and am sad they are not available.
Posted By Ann Sochat on August 31, 2009, 10:12 PM
We took our first-ever river cruise in May,'09,from Budapest to Amsterdam with Viking. The experience was absolutely superb in all respects--so much so that we've booked with Viking again for Moscow to St.Petersburg in June, '10. We've highly recommended Viking to all of our friends who've asked for our thoughts. We wonder if and hope that Norway and Sweden present similar river cruising opportunities and welcome comments from others who might know.
Posted By Charles E. (Pete) Peterson on September 1, 2009, 2:50 PM
We have done the Moscow to St.Petersburg trip with Viking, and highly enjoyed it. I recommend it highly. I also suggest upgrading to the larger cabins if possible, if the ships have not been upgraded. The bathroom in the smaller cabins have no separate shower, the shower head is in the bathroom itself. We did the upgrade, and were glad we did.
Posted By Roger on September 1, 2009, 8:27 PM
We have been lucky to do several river trips and will do the Viking Moscow to St. Petersburg trip in 2010.
However, one of our favorite trips was the Columbia River cruise out of Portland. Everyday the scenery was jaw-dropping. The people on the boat were interesting and well traveled----and the historian was extraordinary.
We did the Mississippi also and loved it, but unfortunately that company went out of business. Hope someone takes over that route. We'd like to do more on the Mississippi. Kelli Richman
Posted By Kelli Shor Richman on September 1, 2009, 10:06 PM
Interesting blog as for me. It would be great to read something more about that topic.
Posted By PhillDoc on October 28, 2009, 12:39 PM
We are doing Viking Surkov to Moscow/St. Pete next June 10. Have been looking for a "roll call" of others on this sailing, but not successful.
Anyone have ideas?
Posted By M. Bachrow on November 4, 2009, 11:25 AM